Bad Bloods: November Rain

By Shannon A. Thompson

Description

The Young Elites by Marie Lu meets Renegades by Marissa Meyer in this action-packed dystopian fantasy series that has readers calling it “addictive” like The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Her very existence is a crime… Seventeen-year-old Serena isn't human. She’s a bad blood, and in the politically corrupt city of Vendona, bad bloods aren’t allowed to live. When Serena is aided in an escape moments before her execution, a revolution is sparked. While on the run, she’s forced to put her trust in a man she knows little about.

Daniel will do anything to stop the twelve-year war that has killed so many of his own. When Serena falls into his life, he sees the opportunity to fight back and stop the eradication of all bad bloods. But there’s more to Serena than meets the eye. They share a connection to his tragic and mysterious past, and the two of them united together might just be Vendona’s only hope.

United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

REVIEWS FOR THE BAD BLOODS SERIES:

"I loved this book! It's an unlikely combination of gritty and clean that is executed beautifully." - On My Kindle

"A powerful work of art. In November Rain, Thompson invites us into a world of secrecy, murder, and unlikely friendships that are bound to make your head spin with wonder." - Lena May Books

"Bad Bloods is a solid work of dystopian YA that will delight any fan of the genre. It also includes an angle that is too often overlooked by other authors in the category." - Truth About Books

"This is one of those 'you can't put it down' books. Thompson builds the tension of the election and its importance slowly and with care. She develops her characters fully and with great attention to detail. She is a masterful storyteller." - The Bookie Monster

Reviews

A very promising first book in the series!

5

By On My Kindle

I bought a print copy of this book from the author at a convention, and decided to leave a review.
I loved this book! It's an unlikely combination of gritty and clean that is executed beautifully.
The action starts at the beginning of the book, and the plot moves forward quickly as readers discover what's going on from Serena's and Daniel's points of view. I liked how Thompson managed to establish what was going on without detracting from the plot's quick pace.
The dystopian world is immersive and complex with political intrigue outside of, and within, the bad bloods' ranks. The characters are interesting; many are children who possess wisdom beyond their years because many of them were thrown out of their homes, and lived on the streets before they were taken in by factions called "flocks." I think that the characters are fairly well-developed, and I get the feeling that Thompson will reveal more about Serena and Daniel as the series progresses.
What is not revealed is the origin of the bad bloods; are the abilities a natural evolutionary step, like the X-Men, or is the mutation caused by an event in the past that exposed people to a mutagen? I was a bit disappointed that this wasn't revealed; however, even the characters seem to be unsure of how bad bloods came to be, but Thompson does hint that more of the bad bloods' origin story will be revealed as the series develops.
November Rain is a promising first book of the Bad Bloods series; it provides readers with enough information to get hooked while offering hints at what's to come. A fantastic dystopian, young adult novel for fans of the genre!

A Thrilling Dystopian

5

By omgbooksandmorebooks

I have loved Shannon A. Thompson's writing ever since The Timely Death Triology, which I highly recommend. The moment I heard Shannon A. Thompson was writing another series, it became one of the top five books in my tbr list.
November Rain is set in city called Vendona, a city divided by humans and Bad Bloods. The Bad Bloods possess different abilities. Many view Bad Bloods as dangerous, but many want them gone. Serena escaped from death and was saved by another bad blood, Daniel. The elections determine the fate of the Bad Bloods and Serena and Daniel must work together in order to save them all.
The plot is character driven. Each character is different and unique, all having a desire to be accepted for who they are. I loved how Shannon A. Thompson gave life and perspective to each character. I throughly enjoy the dual perspective. It gives a fresh insight of the city Serena, Daniel, and the rest of the Bad Bloods live in. This book really defines the meaning of friends, family, and loyalty.
After an ending like that, I need November Snow now. I have said this many times before in my previous reviews, I hate doulogies because they are usually the best type of series written, captivating, strong and thrilling. Bad Bloods definitely falls into this category.
I recommend November Rain to anyone who loves dystopian and learning the real meaning of trust in a world where trust is just an imagination.